A list of Irish historians is presented in this article, from the earliest times up to the present day, by historical periods and in alphabetically order for easier reference.
Many of the earlier historians would have been known in their time as: "Irish Men and Women of Learning". A number of those listed below were scholars in different fields: literature, mathematics, theology, biography, narratives, hagiography, grammar.
Legendary and pre-historic era Fenius Farsaid
Early Medieval Era: 5th–12th centuries
Adamnan, died 704 Aileran the Wise, died 665 Bernard of Chartres Cadac-Andreas Candidus Clemens the Grammarian Cogitosus, fl. c. 650? Cummian Dicuil Donatus of Fiesole Finnian of Moville, died 579 Iohannes Johannes Scottus Eriugena Mac Bethad, fl. 891 Marianus Scotus of Mainz Martianus Hiberniensis of Laon Muirchu moccu Machtheni Pseudo-Augustine, fl. c. 655 Ruben of Dairinis Secundinus Sedulius Scottus (Suadbar) fl. pre-844 Tirechan Tuan mac Cairill, fl. pre-579 Ultan of Ardbraccan, died 657
Late Medieval Era: 12th–16th centuries
Diarmaid Ó Cúlacháin, died 1221 Adhamh O Cianain, died 1373 Gilla Isa Mor mac Donnchadh MacFhirbhisigh, fl. 1390-1418 Giolla na Naomh Mac Aodhagáin, fl. c. 1400 Lawrence Walsh, fl. 1588 Muireadach Albanach O Dalaigh, fl. c. 1220
Early Modern Era: 17th–19th centuries
Aonghus Ruadh na nAor O Dalaigh, died 1617 James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh, 1581-1656 Thomas Carve, died 1672 Charles O Conor, 1710-1791 Cu Choigcriche O Cleirigh, c. 1662/1664 Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, fl. 1627-1636 Daniel O'Daly, died 1662 Daibhidh O Duibhghennain, fl.1651-1696/1706 Nicholas French, died 1678 Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh, fl. 1643-1671 Edward Ledwich, 1738-1823 Eoin O Gnimh, fl. 1699 John Colgan, OFM, 1592-1657 Luke Wadding, OFM, 1588-1657 George Petrie, 1790-1866 James Hardiman, 1782-1855 John O'Donovan, 1806-1861 John O'Hart, 1824-1902 Sylvester O'Halloran, 1728-1807 Lughaidh O Cleirigh, fl. 1595-1630 Matthew O Conor, 1773-1844 Michael O'Clery, c. 1590-1643 Owen Connellan, 1800-1869 Peregrine O'Duignan, fl. 1627-1636 Rev. Charles O Conor, 1767-1828 Ruaidhri O Flaithbheartaigh, 1629-1716/1718 Seathrún Céitinn/Geoffrey Keating, died 1643 Sir James Ware, 1594-1666 Sir John Thomas Gilbert, 1829-1898 Sir William Petty, 1623-1687 Standish Hayes O'Grady, 1832-1915 Tadhg mac Daire Mac Bruaideadha, fl. 1616-1652 Tuileagna Ó Maoil Chonaire, fl. 1638-1673 Whitley Stokes, 1830-1909 William Lecky, 1838-1903
Modern historians A well-reviewed survey of Irish historiography 1936–70 has been published. The list of contributors to The Princeton history of modern Ireland and The Oxford companion to Irish history are also relevant.
James Auchmuty, 1909-1981 Thomas Bartlett J. C. Beckett Lord Bew D. A. Binchy, 1899-1989 Martin J. Blake, 1853-1931 Peter Brown (historian) Ann Buckley Turtle Bunbury Francis John Byrne Nicholas Canny James Carney, 1914-1989 Helena Concannon, 1878-1952 R.V. Comerford Colm Connolly John de Courcy Ireland, 1911-2006 Seán Cronin Louis Cullen Edmund Curtis, 1881-1943 Maurice Curtis Fr. Patrick Dinneen SJ, 1860-1934 Maureen Donovan O'Sullivan, 1887-1966 Eamonn Duffy Owen Dudley Edwards Robin Dudley Edwards Marianne Elliott Ronan Fanning Brian Farrell Diarmaid Ferriter Roy Foster Tom Garvin Joe Graham, 1944-2021 Alice Stopford Green, 1847–1929 Aubrey Gwynn, SJ, 1892-1983 Stephen Gwynn, 1864-1950 Gerard Anthony Hayes-McCoy, 1911-1975 Kathleen Hughes, 1926-1977 James Kelly, 1959- Dermot Keogh J. J. Lee F. S. L. Lyons Dermot MacDermot, died 1989 Edward MacLysaght, 1887-1986 Eoin MacNeill, 1867-1945 Gearóid Mac Niocaill Gearóid Mac Eoin F. X. Martin, 1922-2000 Carmel McCaffrey Robert B. McDowell Hugh McFadden Hiram Morgan, 1960- Kenneth Nicholls Donnchadh Ó Corráin Dáibhí Ó Cróinín Patrick Denis O'Donnell Pádraig Ó Fiannachta Cormac Ó Gráda Nollaig Ó Muraíle T. F. O'Rahilly, 1883-1953 Pádraig Ó Riain Matthew Potter Barry Raftery Sharon Slater ATQ Stewart Kitty Flynn Fr. Paul Walsh, 1885-1941 Patrick Weston Joyce, 1827-1914 Arthur Keaveney, 1951-2020 Arte Walter Kenny
References